Turkey could be divided into two as a result of seismic activity, according to data from a three-year study led by Prof. Dr. Şenol Hakan Kutoğlu from the “Bulent Ecevit“ University in Zonguldak, quoted by the online publication “Haberler“, BTA reported.
According to data obtained using radar, there is ground movement in Turkey in different directions. It starts from Karadeniz Ergeli (Northeastern Turkey, Black Sea district of Zonguldak – ed. note) and extends to the capital Ankara and Antalya. There is also a tension zone between the Eastern and Western parts of the Anatolian Plateau (Central Turkey), which is why it is quite possible that after millions of years it will be divided in half.
„When examining the results, we saw the following - the eastern part of Ankara is moving to the North, and the western part - to the East. As a result, a transition zone is formed, which we call the zero line. This transition zone is also a tension line. Our analysis shows that from the past to the present, large and small earthquakes have occurred along it. But if we extend this geological period, it is possible to predict that if this tension continues, in millions of years the eastern and western parts of Turkey will separate, move away and break away from each other,“ explained the head of the scientific research.
Such a study is presented for the first time, and according to Prof. Kutolgu, it is possible that the tension line, which has the shape of the letter “S”, has formed over a period of 4.5 million years.
The scientists' forecast is that in addition to the separation, there may also be a connection, in which the fault between the eastern and northern parts of the Anatolian Plateau will be closed and both parts will stick to each other.
In addition, Prof. Kutolgu believes that the tension line may soon become a threat.
“When we study the seismic events along this line, "We see that over time, small earthquakes of magnitude 3 and 4 on the Richter scale have occurred. This accumulation of energy over millions of years can lead to the rupture of much longer stress lines," the scientist said.
However, according to him, there is no danger of a major earthquake anytime soon.